Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies	1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“PFG”), its majority-owned subsidiaries and its consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”), have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2014. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our annual audited financial statements as of December 31, 2013, included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2013, has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial position but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. This guidance will be effective for us on January 1, 2015, with early adoption permitted. This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In January 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to reduce diversity in practice by clarifying when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs. This guidance will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2015, and is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Also, in January 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on accounting for investments by a reporting entity in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit. This guidance will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2015, and is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In July 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires the liability related to certain unrecognized benefits to be offset against a deferred tax asset from operating loss carryforwards. This guidance was effective for us beginning January 1, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that formalizes the definition of an investment company. This guidance was effective for us beginning January 1, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that clarifies how the cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) related to a parent’s investment in a foreign entity should be released when certain transactions related to the foreign entity occur. This guidance was effective prospectively for us beginning January 1, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Separate Accounts The separate accounts are legally segregated and are not subject to the claims that arise out of any of our other business. The client, rather than us, directs the investments and bears the investment risk of these funds. The separate account assets represent the fair value of funds that are separately administered by us for contracts with equity, real estate and fixed income investments and are presented as a summary total within the consolidated statements of financial position. An equivalent amount is reported as separate account liabilities, which represent the obligation to return the monies to the client. We receive fees for mortality, withdrawal and expense risks, as well as administrative, maintenance and investment advisory services that are included in the consolidated statements of operations. Net deposits, net investment income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the separate accounts are not reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Separate account assets and separate account liabilities include certain non-domestic retirement accumulation products where the segregated funds and associated obligation to the client are consolidated within our financial statements. We have determined that summary totals are the most meaningful presentation for these funds. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the separate account assets include a separate account valued at $199.4 million and $223.1 million, respectively, which primarily includes shares of our stock that were allocated and issued to eligible participants of qualified employee benefit plans administered by us as part of the policy credits issued under our 2001 demutualization. These shares are included in both basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. In the consolidated statements of financial position, the separate account shares are recorded at fair value and are reported as separate account assets with a corresponding separate account liability to eligible participants of the qualified plan. Changes in fair value of the separate account shares are reflected in both the separate account assets and separate account liabilities and do not impact our results of operations.

1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“PFG”), its majority-owned subsidiaries and its consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”), have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2014. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our annual audited financial statements as of December 31, 2013, included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2013, has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial position but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. This guidance will be effective for us on January 1, 2015, with early adoption permitted. This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to reduce diversity in practice by clarifying when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs. This guidance will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2015, and is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Also, in January 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on accounting for investments by a reporting entity in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit. This guidance will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2015, and is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires the liability related to certain unrecognized benefits to be offset against a deferred tax asset from operating loss carryforwards. This guidance was effective for us beginning January 1, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that formalizes the definition of an investment company. This guidance was effective for us beginning January 1, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that clarifies how the cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) related to a parent’s investment in a foreign entity should be released when certain transactions related to the foreign entity occur. This guidance was effective prospectively for us beginning January 1, 2014, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Separate Accounts

The separate accounts are legally segregated and are not subject to the claims that arise out of any of our other business. The client, rather than us, directs the investments and bears the investment risk of these funds. The separate account assets represent the fair value of funds that are separately administered by us for contracts with equity, real estate and fixed income investments and are presented as a summary total within the consolidated statements of financial position. An equivalent amount is reported as separate account liabilities, which represent the obligation to return the monies to the client. We receive fees for mortality, withdrawal and expense risks, as well as administrative, maintenance and investment advisory services that are included in the consolidated statements of operations. Net deposits, net investment income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the separate accounts are not reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Separate account assets and separate account liabilities include certain non-domestic retirement accumulation products where the segregated funds and associated obligation to the client are consolidated within our financial statements. We have determined that summary totals are the most meaningful presentation for these funds.

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the separate account assets include a separate account valued at $199.4 million and $223.1 million, respectively, which primarily includes shares of our stock that were allocated and issued to eligible participants of qualified employee benefit plans administered by us as part of the policy credits issued under our 2001 demutualization. These shares are included in both basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. In the consolidated statements of financial position, the separate account shares are recorded at fair value and are reported as separate account assets with a corresponding separate account liability to eligible participants of the qualified plan. Changes in fair value of the separate account shares are reflected in both the separate account assets and separate account liabilities and do not impact our results of operations.